Famous throwers to compete at Turku IAAF tour

Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego of Kenya will train in the southwest coast of Finland and compete at the Paavo Nurmi Games on June 5 in Turku City.

Yego, 28, had earmarked the Ostrava Golden Spike on June 9 as return to action having skipped the Shanghai, Eugene and Rome Diamond League meetings, but his management confirmed on Wednesday, the Kenyan will be part of the elite athletes in Finland's meeting, which is part of the IAAF World Challenge races.

Top German javelin throwers Johannes Vetter, Thomas Rohler, Tero Pitkamaki, Andreas Hofmann and Yego will all compete at the IAAF World Challenge meeting.

"I am keen to return to form. I started the season early and that is because I got injured in 2017. It has been tough and there have been mistakes, but I feel stronger now," said Yego on Wednesday from Eldoret.

The organizers of the event have confirmed that the winner of the javelin competition, who will be able to surpass the Finnish record of 93.09 meters, will be handed the deed to an island from the Turku Archipelago.

The men's hammer line-up includes reigning world champion Pawel Fajdek, Commonwealth Games champion Nick Miller, Olympic champion Dilshod Nazarov and multiple major bronze medalist Wojciech Nowicki while Sandra Perkovic is also confirmed for the discus.

Yego, who has endured three defeats this season, hopes to put an end to his poor run and secure his first 90m throw in Finland.

"I am happy with the progress I have made in training. I have jumped to the 80m mark. Though the competition is at 90m, I feel I will get there soon," he added.

Yego lost out to Rohler (91.78), Johannes Vetter and Andreas Hofmann (90.08) while Commonwealth Games champion Neeraj Chopra of India was fourth during the Doha Diamond League meeting on May 4.

All the four will be in Eugene on Saturday for another round of competition, but Yego hopes his miss will help him reflect and improve on his performance as the season gains momentum.

The Africa championships in Asaba, Nigeria in August will be the epic end of the season and Yego believes he will have shaken off his rust and be in top form.

Top two finishers at the Africa Championships will secure automatic entry to the IAAF Continental Cup, which will be staged in September in Ostrava, Czech Republic.